Moving the goalposts to catch the spin ball

January 21, 2000
by BERNARD INGHAM

If the PR industry were into good works, it would provide free
counselling for those about to be mugged by spin doctors. Labour peer,
Lord Winston, fertility expert and critic of NHS under-funding, would
have benefited enormously. Having spoken his mind about Government
’deceit’ over the NHS, he was duffed up by Alastair Campbell. He then
soft-pedalled his NHS criticisms until the New Statesman, which started
it all, issued a tape recording of what he had originally said. Lord
Winston’s political career and reputation as a man who knows his own
mind - and sticks to it - were left in ruins.